Mobile communication terminal

• US 7,289,824 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Issued: 10/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Trauberg, Markus, Schmidt, Andreas, Laumen, Josef, Niekerk, Sabine Van, Jerbi, Belhassen
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild; Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOAN, KIET M
• Application Number:
  US10/476,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20040132490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,055 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/411, 455/410, 455/461, 713/186, 713/202, 382/124, 382/125, 382/115, 235/380, 235/382, 283/67, 345/173, 340/5.53
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/673 the user being required to key in a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A mobile communication terminal is molded having an operating surface including a display and a keyboard. A biometric sensor is arranged on the operating surface, for scanning and identifying a fingerprint. The inventive communication terminal can be controlled especially according to the orientation of the fingerprint, which is detected via the sensor.

Claims

1. A mobile communication terminal, comprising:

an operating surface; and

a biometric sensor for identifying and registering a fingerprint impressed on the operating surface in a plurality of different orientations having different angles relative to the operating surface and representative of different functions, wherein the biometric sensor registers at least one of the plurality of different orientations, enters a specific control instruction into the mobile communication terminal according to the registered orientation of the finger, and transmits the control instruction to the mobile communication terminal when a fingerprint is identified as being positioned in the registered orientation, wherein

the biometric sensor has an extended surface which permits a finger to be placed in different position.

2. The mobile communication terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a display in which the biometric sensor is integrated.

3. The mobile communication terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biometric sensor registers a time interval between successive scanning operations of at least one finger.

4. The mobile communication terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biometric sensor is used as an input device for operating the mobile communication terminal.

5. The mobile communication terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control instruction entered through the biometric sensor is used for one of controlling a menu structure shown on the operating surface and entering characters.

6. A method for operating a mobile communication terminal, comprising:

receiving a fingerprint impression on an operating surface of a biometric sensor determining one of a plurality of different orientations having different angles of the impressed fingerprint relative to an operating surface of the mobile communication terminal and representative of different functions;

registering the determined orientation and assigning a control instruction for the mobile communication terminal based on the registered orientation;

receiving a second fingerprint impression on the operating surface;

determining whether the second fingerprint impression has an orientation that matches the registered orientation, and transmitting the control instruction to the mobile communication terminal if a match is determined.

7. A method for operating a mobile communication device, comprising:

registering a plurality of different orientations having different angels of a fingerprint relative to the operating surface of the mobile communication device and representative of different functions;

assigning a respective control function to each registered orientation;

processing a fingerprint impressed on the operating surface of the mobile communication device via a biometric sensor to determine the orientation of the impressed fingerprint;

determining if the impressed fingerprint orientation matches a registered orientation; and

executing the control function assigned to the orientation to control operation of the mobile communication device.